Notice to Comply

Dear Planning and Development Department:

Thank you for the Notice.  I was worried that my photographic art work was going un-appreciated.

I’m just wondering if you’re also going to be sending a notice to my neighbor, who loves cooking soup.  She’s very good at it, and sometimes brings over some tupperware containers of soup for my wife and I to enjoy.  We have sometimes filled her tupperware with our own soup, or other treats before returning them.  Does that mean she’s operating a business?  I’m sure she can afford the permit fees, even though she’s raising a baby on a single income. There’s talk of a “soup party” among the neighbors– where we’d bring our own soups to trade… will everyone at the party have to get permits too?

Come to think of it, there’s a girl next door to us who does babysitting.  I could probably arrange a sting for you— I could hire her to cat-sit, and you could swoop in and make her comply.

Also, I’m pretty sure the ghost of the old lady who owned our house before us is running moonshine after we go to sleep… you may want to check into that.

Oh, and your notice is a little confusing. Directly under NOTICE TO COMPLY, it says “Operate a Business Without a License”.  Does that mean I should be doing that?

Then, your notice goes on to instruct me to call 496-3100 to obtain a license.  When I call that number, I get a recording that says it is a number to which long distance charges will apply.  You may have meant to include 780 in front of that— but who’s worried about details?

Warmest Regards,

Michael Reinhart

(Full Disclosure:  I was at one time marketing my services as a photographer on the Internet. Some 6 or 8 months ago, I decided that I would not be seeking any professional work.  I did not remove the marketing references from my web site until after I received the initial email from the City of Edmonton.

For the record, except for one shoot some 3 years ago, I have never been paid for photography in the City of Edmonton.

Today, I continue to build my body of artistic photography for my own gratification.)